Three Diamonds Farm’s 5-year-old gelding Jimanator won the $100,000 Fred W. Hooper Handicap at Calder Casino & Race Course on Saturday, defeating Mambo Meister by three-quarters of a length in an exciting stretch duel. The two were clear ahead of the others as it was 5 ¼ lengths back to Stimulus Plan in third.
Making his first start at Calder for trainer Michael Trombetta, Jimanator was ridden to victory by jockey Joe Bravo. He covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.56 and paid $7.00, $2.80, and $2.20.
The Fred Hooper Handicap was the first stakes win for Jimanator, and marked his tenth career victory from 34 starts.
Winning owner’s quotes:
Kirk Wycoff – “We claimed this horse at Saratoga for a couple of reasons. He’s by Broken Vow and we’ve had success with horses by him before. And my son Jordon is a student of the figures and he liked him based on that. So, I was there that day (Aug. 18) and dropped the slip ($20,000 claim). After his last race (6 ¼ lengths allowance victory) at Parx we decided to take a shot in this race. We thought he’d like the mile-and-an-eighth. He’s probably earned a little break now. He’ll go to Palm Meadows and Michael (Trombetta – trainer) will decide what’s next for him. I own Three Diamonds Farm with my wife Deborah and it’s named for our three children. This is only the second Graded stakes we’ve won. We won the Discovery at Aqueduct a few years ago with Now a Victor.”
Winning jockey’s quotes:
Joe Bravo – “The owners have got to be so excited about this horse after having just claimed him for twenty ($20,000) just a few races back and to beat a nice horse like Mambo Meister. He’s a big horse with a big frame and is really coming into himself. He sure made my job easy.”
